A wave of anger and frustration swept through two key constituencies on Tuesday as supporters of nomination-deprived BNP leaders staged road blockades, protest rallies and torch processions, demanding an immediate reversal of the party’s recently announced parliamentary candidates for Munshiganj–3 (Sadar–Gazaria) and Patuakhali–2 (Bauphal).
From 3 pm to 5 pm, the main thoroughfare of Munshiganj town remained blocked as thousands of BNP activists gathered in response to the call of Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, the district BNP’s member-secretary and an aspirant for the Munshiganj–3 nomination. Leaders and workers from 18 wards of Munshiganj and Mir Kadim municipalities and nine unions of Sadar Upazila joined the demonstration, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.
The protests erupted after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the party’s second phase of candidates for 36 constituencies on 4 December, nominating Md Kamruzzaman, BNP’s central secretary for social welfare affairs, for Munshiganj–3—deeply upsetting Mohiuddin’s supporters.
Eyewitnesses stated that processions began arriving near the district BNP office shortly after midday, gradually filling the streets. By half past three, the entire road was closed to vehicles. Protesters marched through Super Market, Jubilee Road and the Old Kachhari area before circling back to the BNP office. Demonstrators alleged that the Mohiuddin family has been the backbone of BNP in the district for over 40 years, spearheading movements, enduring attacks, and facing countless legal cases. They claimed Kamruzzaman had little organisational presence in the area, accusing the party leadership of ignoring grassroots sentiment.
Several senior district BNP figures—including Ataur Hossain, Shahadat Hossain Sarkar, Kazi Abu Sufian, Abdul Matin of Panchsar Union BNP and Jasimuddin Ahmed, president of Mir Kadim Municipal BNP—joined the programme, signalling widespread internal dissatisfaction.
Meanwhile in Patuakhali–2 (Bauphal), a torch procession was brought out at 6:45 pm from the upazila BNP office by supporters of nomination-seekers Md Munir Hossain and industrialist A.K.M. Faruk Ahmed Talukder, after BNP nominated former MP Shahidul Alam Talukder for the seat. The procession moved through several municipal roads before returning to the party office.
Local BNP activists had already held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening, urging party high command to reconsider Shahidul Alam’s nomination. This week alone, they have staged at least three rounds of protests. Interestingly, although Shahidul Alam visited Bauphal earlier in the day to attend a prayer gathering for Khaleda Zia’s recovery, most top leaders from the upazila, municipality and 15 local unions were conspicuously absent—highlighting the depth of discontent within the local ranks.
Summary of BNP Nomination Conflicts
| Constituency | Nominated Candidate | Nomination Seekers Who Were Overlooked | Forms of Protest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munshiganj–3 | Md Kamruzzaman | Md Mohiuddin Ahmed | Road blockade, mass rally |
| Patuakhali–2 | Shahidul Alam Talukder | Md Munir Hossain; A.K.M. Faruk Ahmed Talukder | Torch procession, repeated demonstrations |